Privilege not obligation.

justbyfaith

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Hebrews 7:18-19, For there is verily a disanulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did: by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Colossians 2:14, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Ephesians 2:15, Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

Romans 7:6, But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Galatians 2:19, For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

Romans 7:4, Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Romans 6:14, For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 5:13, For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Romans 4:15, Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Romans 4:8, Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:18, But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Galatians 3:24-25, Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

All of these scriptures are one side of the coin, which tell us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

On the other side of the coin is what it means to walk according to the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 9:21, To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

Hebrews 8:8-10, Hebrews 10:16-17, For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Juda: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people...This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.

Romans 8:4, That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:7, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Inversely, Because the spiritual mind is at peace with God: for it is subject to the law of God, and cannot be otherwise.

For a definition of what we call the law of God as great ones in the kingdom, we must look at Jesus' words in Matthew 5:18-19:

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be caled great in the kingdom of heaven.

Now love is the fulfilling of the law:

Galatians 5:14, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Romans 13:8-10, Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Therefore if I violate any of the commandments listed, it is clear that I am not loving my neighbor as myself and not living up to what Christ would have me to be.

1 John 5:2-3, By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Romans 5:5, And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Galatians 3:14, That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ: that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Therefore in placing our faith in Jesus Christ we receive not only forgiveness from past, present, and future sin so that there is no condemnation from the law if we were to mess up and violate it in some way, shape, or form; but we receive the love of God which fulfills the law within us so that for the most part we walk in the holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ (see Romans 5:17, Romans 5:19, 1 John 3:7).

Therefore, because we are not under the law, are dead to it, and are delivered from it, we are not obligated under condemnation to keep it; but it is our privilege to serve the Lord and His Holy Spirit within us motivates us to want to rather than have to obey Him.

Romans 5:17, For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:19, For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

1 John 3:7, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
 
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justbyfaith

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Love is the fulfilling of the law. So if you simplify the commmandments of Jesus to what it says in 1 John 3:23, you will have less of a burden. However, you can learn more specifically what the love of God is by looking into the law of liberty.

1 John 3:23, And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Also 1 John 3:18 and Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-38 show more clearly what it means to love one another.

1 John 3:18, My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Matthew 5:43-48, Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Luke 6:27-38, But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which depsitefuly use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those who love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured unto you again.
 
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TheSeabass

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Hebrews 7:18-19, For there is verily a disanulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did: by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Colossians 2:14, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Ephesians 2:15, Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

Romans 7:6, But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Galatians 2:19, For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

Romans 7:4, Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Romans 6:14, For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 5:13, For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Romans 4:15, Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Romans 4:8, Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:18, But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Galatians 3:24-25, Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

All of these scriptures are one side of the coin, which tell us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

On the other side of the coin is what it means to walk according to the Spirit.

1 Corinthans 9:21, To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

Hebrews 8:8-10, Hebrews 10:16-17, For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Juda: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people...This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.

Romans 8:4, That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:7, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Inversely, Because the spiritual mind is at peace with God: for it is subject to the law of God, and cannot be otherwise.

For a definition of what we call the law of God as great ones in the kingdom, we must look at Jesus' words in Matthew 5:18-19:

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be caled great in the kingdom of heaven.

Now love is the fulfilling of the law:

Galatians 5:14, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Romans 13:8-10, Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Therefore if I violate any of the commandments listed, it is clear that I am not loving my neighbor as myself and not living up to what Christ would have me to be.

1 John 5:2-3, By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Romans 5:5, And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Galatians 3:14, That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ: that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Therefore in placing our faith in Jesus Christ we receive not only forgiveness from past, present, and future sin so that there is no condemnation from the law if we were to mess up and violate it in some way, shape, or form; but we receive the love of God which fulfills the law within us so that for the most part we walk in the holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ (see Romans 5:17, Romans 5:19, 1 John 3:7).

Therefore, because we are not under the law, are dead to it, and are delivered from it, we are not obligated under condemnation to keep it; but it is our privilege to serve the Lord and His Holy Spirit within us motivates us to want to rather than have to obey Him.

Romans 5:17, For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:19, For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

1 John 3:7, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.


To make a point of clarification, some people when they read "we are not under the law" they think that means they are not under ANY law at all and have the freedom to do as they please. Paul of course was talking about the law of Moses that we are not under because today for we are under law to Christ, 1 Corinthians 9:21. If one desires to be saved, then obedience to Christ's law is a must not a choice.
 
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justbyfaith

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To make a point of clarification, some people when they read "we are not under the law" they think that means they are not under ANY law at all and have the freedom to do as they please. Paul of course was talking about the law of Moses that we are not under because today for we are under law to Christ, 1 Corinthians 9:21. If one desires to be saved, then obedience to Christ's law is a must not a choice.

The fact that we are not under the law as believers means that there is no condemnation from ANY law, because we are forgiven of past, present, and future sin. Our motivation therefore, for obeying the Lord, is no longer a fear of condemnation if we don't, but out of a thankfulness and gratitude that the Lord has saved us even if we don't. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19) and has set us free from condemnation.

We do indeed have the freedom to do as we please. But what we please is different from what pleased us before we got saved. Now the only things that please us are everything righteous.
 
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TheSeabass

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The fact that we are not under the law as believers means that there is no condemnation from ANY law, because we are forgiven of past, present, and future sin. Our motivation therefore, for obeying the Lord, is no longer a fear of condemnation if we don't, but out of a thankfulness and gratitude that the Lord has saved us even if we don't. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19) and has set us free from condemnation.

We do indeed have the freedom to do as we please. But what we please is different from what pleased us before we got saved. Now the only things that please us are everything righteous.

Romans 8:1 no condemnation to them that are "in Christ" Paul's point in Romans 7 is showing the impossible for the Jew in keeping the OT law perfectly to be justified, and in Rom 8 Paul contrasts that OT law of Moses to "now" being in Christ under the NT law. Romans 8:2 for the "law of the Spirit" (NT gospel) makes us free from the law of sin and death.

Sins are forgiven conditionally. When the sinner repents and is baptized (Acts 2:38) all of the sins he has committed are remitted. Then he must continue to walk in the light (1 John 1:7) so all future sins he commits will continued to be cleansed away by the blood of Christ. If one becomes unfaithful in his walk then he falls from being "in Christ" into condemnation again. Therefore the walk in the light is a must in order to remain in Christ where there is no condemnation.

Man has free will to do as he pleases, but if he has a desire to be saved then he must conform to the law of Christ, the NT gospel.
 
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justbyfaith

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Romans 8:1 no condemnation to them that are "in Christ" Paul's point in Romans 7 is showing the impossible for the Jew in keeping the OT law perfectly to be justified, and in Rom 8 Paul contrasts that OT law of Moses to "now" being in Christ under the NT law. Romans 8:2 for the "law of the Spirit" (NT gospel) makes us free from the law of sin and death.

Sins are forgiven conditionally. When the sinner repents and is baptized (Acts 2:38) all of the sins he has committed are remitted. Then he must continue to walk in the light (1 John 1:7) so all future sins he commits will continued to be cleansed away by the blood of Christ. If one becomes unfaithful in his walk then he falls from being "in Christ" into condemnation again. Therefore the walk in the light is a must in order to remain in Christ where there is no condemnation.

Man has free will to do as he pleases, but if he has a desire to be saved then he must conform to the law of Christ, the NT gospel.

The "law of Christ" is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Paul wrote that sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the law but under grace. Therefore it is the unmerited favour of the Lord that delivers us from sin. This unmerited favour, in a nutshell, is proclaimed in Romans 4:8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. In context of this verse is Romans 4:5, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. God imputes righteousness apart from works, Romans 4:6, and this righteousness is in its essence the fact that our iniquities are forgiven and our sins covered, Romans 4:7-8.

It is not the righteousness of the law that is counted to us as righteousness, but our simple faith in Jesus Christ. Then, knowing that we are forgiven through very great cost to the Father and the Son, we serve Him out of pure gratitude and thankfulness. We fall in love with the Person who had such great love for us and we become willing in the day of His power (1 John 4:19, Psalms 110:3). We hold Christ to be honourable and of the Highest Most Infinite Character, worthy of our love and service for all of our eternal days. We serve Him out of love and gratitude not obligation.
 
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justbyfaith

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Someone at a different message board coined the phrase, "the law of Christ" and then formed a false theology around the word.

Their teaching goes as follows: we are not under the law of Moses but under the "law of Christ". This law of Christ is that we love on other people, and we must continue to love on other people in order to maintain our salvation. Because we are under the law of Christ, it is required of us that we love on other people or we are not saved.

Therefore, if I fail to love on other people for three weeks, I have lost my salvation because I did not maintain it by loving on people. What the author of this theology falis to realize is that, where is the cutting off point of a time limit? What if I fail to love on people for one week? One day? One hour? One minute? how about one second?

And this loving on people must needs be practical, so the moment I go to sleep I lose my salvation because I cannot be practically loving on people while I am sleeping.

There is a much better way. By putting my faith in Jesus Christ, His love is shed abroad in my heart (Galatians 3:14, Romans 5:5), and this is the fulfilling of the law within my life (Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14).

So the only requirement is faith in Christ, and loving on people will supernaturally follow. This love is shed abroad in my heart as a principle and this principle will result in practical applications of love at opportune times. But the requirement of performing acts of love is not a biblical requirement. Salvation is not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We neither obtain salvation, nor do we maintain it, by the things that we do. Our salvation is both obtained and maintained by our faith in Jesus, and works are the result of such a living faith. But the works do not save and they do not maintain my salvation. They simply are the result of a work that God has done in my heart.

Therefore if works are absent, I should still question whether I have salvation. But I cannot grab hold of salvation by helping an old lady across the street, or by otherwise performing an act of love. And continued acts of love do not in any way maintain my faith so that my faith is more valid. If I am trying to prove to myself that I am saved by doing things, then I have missed the point. The gospel in a nutshell is in John 3:16 and also 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Jesus died for my sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. And if I keep this in memory I am saved unless I have believed in vain. It is therefore by faith all the way, and the things I do for Christ result out of a changed heart as He has renewed and regenerated me in the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:4-7); because He has given me a new heart though faith that has an attitude of wanting to do good things for God, not to earn salvation, but because God has saved me and I am thankful to Him. I love Him because He first loved me (1 John 4:19).
 
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